Thursday, September 16, 2010

Obsessed? Join the Club.

I am a writer - and I still can't get over how much I love saying that! - so I love words.  Big words, small words, words that coat your tongue like heather honey, words that snap like icicles or crackle like burning logs.

Scrumptious.

Can't get enough of them and that's not a problem when you've got one of these to dip into on a daily basis:

Well-thumbed beauty, isn't she? Bigger than the bible by my reckoning, so for today's lesson let's dip in and pick a word shall we? My turn first:

OBSESSION.
'An idea or thought that continuously preoccupies or intrudes on a person's mind.'

Ah, I do like this one.

Any decent alpha male hero needs a touch of this to drive him on, to focus, achieve and become the successful man he is. Similarly, your heroine will need a good dollop to adhere to her principles and fight for what she believes in, in spite of the impossible temptation and choices she is facing.

They both suffer from the bittersweet hold of obsession when they are unable to resist each other and can't shake the need for their perfect mate. They become consumed, obsessed with wanting each other, with fighting that need until it brings them to their knees and speeds them on to their happy ever after ending.

And what about the author?  The person who writes their story?  Does he or she need to be obsessed to create this storm of emotion? To force them together, tear them apart, crush them and finally reconcile them in a satisfying way?

There's no doubt about it in my mind.  If I wasn't so obsessed with writing I'd never have finished writing a book in the first place. Or the next one and a couple more after that. I would never have submitted either.

So, do you agree?  Do you have to have a bit of an obsession to be a writer?  Or is there another way?  My family might want to know at some stage.

Well, here endeth the lesson.  Drop us a line if you'd like us to feature a particular word in the future, otherwise I get to choose again (yessss!). But you've been very patient, so as a treat I'm going to share my current hero obsession:

 David ...

Sigh.  He's been top of the list for a couple of years now, I really think I need a cure.


He's become a bit of an addiction actually.  Now there's a good word.


Rachel Lyndhurst is one of our new Embrace Books authors, and will be launching her contemporary romance 'Storm's Heart' in early 2011.

5 comments:

  1. Now that's what I call an obsession. Do you lend David out? Does he have a twin?

    Nice pic. A lovely man on a yacht. The stuff of dreams. I'd definitely share my best truffles with him.

    Seriously though obsession is a brilliant and apt word; reading, writing, working out charaters, even trying to get revisions spot on!

    Great post, Rachel.

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  2. A very attractive addiction I must say! And so much healthier than most. Fresh sea air, exercise, a glass of something fruity ...

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  3. Well, Judy, I do owe you a few favours.So yes, I will sublet him to you now and then. But don't tell me what you get up to!

    Maggi, you are spot on with the health aspects of David, but I do try to be sensible and balance it all out with regular doses of red wine. Expect to see a good number of dark, dangerous, blue-eyed heros in the future!

    Best,
    Rach.
    XX

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  4. Thanks for posting this, Rachel. He's a bit too young and clean-cut for me, this one. I like my men to have a teensy bit more meat on them, and rather more stubble. (Which is just as well, given the way I've been over-feeding my husband this year.) Maybe an earring too, and a piratical look. Though I suppose the sea is involved ...

    Looking forward to more posts by Embrace authors!!

    J.

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  5. He's thirty now you know, Jane, so I'm still in with a fighting chance (snort!).

    Dave also likes listening to Tony Bennett and antique shops. As well as biscuits.

    I will find some stubble shots and stalk you silly with them!

    Lots of love,

    Rach.
    XX

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